The Tri-Phase Affair, Part 3

So in my last two posts, I have talked about Vitalyte’s new product – Tri-Phase Endurance. An awesome new addition to the Vitalyte team of products, Tri-Phase Endurance is formulated to provide sustained energy and focus, fight free radicals, replenish electrolytes and accelerate recovery. Since I am an out-of-shape, ex-runner who wants to get her endurance groove back, I am totally stoked about this product. It’s called Tri-Phase, because it’s a three stage drink. I’ve already discussed the first two stages, which just to remind you, have made me fall head over heels for the product. Stage one gives you mental focus and sustained energy. Stage two provides increased endurance and decreased muscle fatigue. That brings us now to stage three….

Stage three is all the stuff that has made Vitalyte famous – electrolyte replacement and advanced muscle repair. The advanced electrolyte blend is the same high-performance mix Vitalyte is known for. Electrolytes are needed to keep your neurotransmitters firing and reach your maximum performance potential. Yes, for my sad, can-only-run-a-mile body, that’s exactly what I need. It is also known that extreme exercise increases free radical damage in your body. What you need to combat this are antioxidants. Tri-Phase Endurance contains Selenium, which boosts Glatathione, the “master anitoxidant” and one of the most powerful free radical scavengers available to your body.

What’s awesome is that you take Tri-Phase Endurance 30 minutes prior to a workout or competition and after that, you are set. I’m not that worried anymore about pushing myself through those miles. I’ve got my best wingman here to help. Thank you Vitalyte. You rock my world.

The Tri-Phase Love Affair Endures

So readers, if you’ve tuned in lately you’ll notice I’ve found myself a new love. Vitalyte’s Tri Phase Endurance. This all came about when a few days ago I had finally gone for run again, after being absent from the routine for over two years. Much to my dismay, I found that I couldn’t even get through two miles without having to quit, gasping for breath and all. Well, I have made a plan to get myself back in shape and fortunately for me, my favorite sports drink maker – Vitalyte – has just come out with this great new endurance drink, formulated to provide sustained energy and focus, fight free radicals, replenish electrolytes and accelerate recovery. And trust me folks, it does just that.

Tri-Phase Endurance is a three stage drink. In my last post, I talked about stage one’s awesome ability to provide mental focus and sustained energy. Well, my love for the drink doesn’t stop there. Stage two is all about increasing endurance and decreasing muscle fatigue. The Branched Chain Amino Acids and CarnoSyn™ Beta-Alanine provide your muscles with needed amino acids, speed recovery and buffer lactic acid. CarnoSyn™ Beta-Alanine is patented and clinically proven to buffer lactic acid and increase endurance. Goodbye annoying muscle cramps. Leucine, Isoleucine and Valine are like instant food for your hungry muscles and stimulate protein synthesis, helping to repair and build new ones. Yes, I need that. Lastly, Arginine and Citrulline are part of the Nitric Oxide cycle and may help boost blood flow to thirsty muscles.

Alright Vitalyte, you are making this whole getting back in shape thing sound easier and easier.

Friends, come back in a bit and I’ll tell you about the last stage of this awesome drink…

Tri-Phase Endurance, You Had Me At Hello

Out for a run the other day with my asthmatic boyfriend who, said to say, can now woop my ass. I don’t know what happened to me. I used to be able to run miles with ease. But now that I’m out of practice, I can barely go two miles without keeling over, gasping for air. Yeah I know. Go ahead and laugh. But with work and school and other various obligations that have caught up with me these past couple of years, I haven’t really had a ton of time to devote to building up my endurance. That, ladies and gentlemen, is going to change.

Vitalyte’s got this really amazing new product. It’s called Tri-Phase Endurance and I’m told it’s what I need to drink to help me get through those first two miles and on to the other five. So why is it so great, you ask? Simply put, Tri-Phase Endurance is formulated to provide sustained energy and cognitive focus, all while fighting free radicals, replenishing the electrolytes you lose in extreme athletics and rapidly accelerating recovery. Yep, three stages all in one drink.

So, let’s talk about stage one first. Stage One is for mental focus and sustained energy. Yeah, I need that. I need that a lot. Tell me more. The sustained energy and mental focus comes from a combo of Vitamins B6 and B12 (a couple of my faves), and fast and slow acting carbohydrates – Crystalline Fructose, Maltodextrin and Palatinose™. Crystalline Fructose and Maltodextrin are fast acting carbohydrates that provide immediate energy – yes, much better than a quad shot venti caramel macchiato. Palatinose™ is a patented endurance carbohydrate that provides the sustained energy you need to keep you pumping through to the last mile.

You know Vitalyte, even at just stage one of three you’ve already got me falling for you. Stay tuned readers and I’ll give you a little taste of the other things that make this drink so awesome.

Skip the Hair of the Dog - Try These Hangover Tips That Work

We’ve boasted for awhile now that our Electrolyte Replacement Solution is amazing for curing hangovers. It basically replenishes your body of the essential electrolytes it needs for healthy functioning. But, we thought we’d give you some other hangover pointers that the famed Dr. Oz has suggested.

• EAT PLENTY OF FOOD – Neither Dr. Oz nor we can stress this enough. Make sure to have plenty of food in your stomach before you drink. You will feel the affects of alcohol a lot sooner and a lot harsher if you drink on an empty stomach.

• DRINK THE CLEAR STUFF – Pale spirits, like vodka, white wine and gin are a better option than their partners red wine, bourbon and whiskey. Dark booze contains more congeners, chemicals that up inflammation in the body, making your hangover worse.

• H20, H20, H20 – Yes, hydrate! During the party you are at, and when you get home. Before hitting the sack, drink at least two glasses of water. Alcohol dehydrates you and dehydration reduces the liquid around your blood cells and leads to headaches, dizziness and nausea.

• EGG IT UP – The next morning have eggs for breakfast. Dr. Oz claims them to be his go-to hangover cure because they contain cysteine, a substance that breaks down acetaldehyde, a hangover-causing toxin in alcohol. He also says that both broth and bananas are a good choice because they replenish sodium and potassium lost.

• SKIP THE CUP O’ JOE – Although most of us love coffee when we are hungover, it actually does nothing to help. Rather, it delays the hangover. Try peppermint tea or a glass of 100% fruit juice. Peppermint soothes your stomach and fructose in the juice helps the body metabolize alcohol faster.

• WORK IT OUT – While Dr. Oz says you can’t flush alcohol out of the system with exercise, he knows just like we do that exercise produces happy feeling endorphins that make you just feel better overall.

We should make a point here to say that excessive drinking is always unhealthy for your body. It is best to limit your intake to one drink at a time. However, we have all been down the over-indulgence road from time to time. Hope these tips help!

Be Single, Be Healthy!

So Valentine’s Day is fast approaching and many of you singles out there might be dreading the holiday. But don’t fret. There are a number of great health benefits to being single. We just came across this great article in SELF magazine about it. Listen up!

• YOU STAY MORE SLIM – Alright, now who doesn’t love to hear that? A study form the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill concluded that women who live alone gained less weight (about 9 pounds less over a 5 year period) than newly married women. Because men have a higher calorie allowance, if you eat what he eats, you will likely gain weight. So, married women, watch out for this.

• YOU SLEEP BETTER – We’ve all be subjected to nights where a snorer or unsound sleeper has kept us awake. Two thirds of people who share a bed say their partner snores, costing them an average of 49 minutes of sleep a night, according to a National Sleep Foundation survey. So, cuddle up with yourself instead to get a better night’s sleep and wake up feeling better in the morning.

• YOU GET MORE YOU-TIME – Even the most extroverted of people need some alone time to recooperate and work on themselves. Single women get seven extra hours of personal time a week that married women spend doing chores, according to research done at the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor. More personal time means more time for exercise, yoga and meditation, self-reflection and any other things you may need and want to get done.

So single friends, here’s the true story. Being alone is not scary. It’s actually a really beneficial thing! So this Valentine’s Day, bask in the glow of your singledom and celebrate the happy, healthy you!

Marathon Training Tips

So you’re signed up and ready to run your first marathon. Or maybe, you are a seasoned marathon athlete. Either way, you know it’s a challenge to get fit and get ready for a big event. Here are some helpful tips that expert marathon runners suggest you follow:

• Train consistently.

Many expert marathoners will say the key to staying in shape and ready for a marathon is to keep your training and weight consistent. It is very important to train and stay in shape all year round, as if a marathon were right around the corner. If you slack off for part of the year and only start training before the big event, it will be a lot more of a challenge to get in shape in time. Eat healthy, work out and keep yourself in shape all year round. It’s easier on your body as there won’t be as many fluctuations in your eating habits or workout regimens. Your body won’t go through the shock that it otherwise would.

• Run fewer marathons.

While this might seem to be the opposite of what you should do, especially considering we just told you to stay in shape throughout the whole year, you should limit your marathon competitions to one per year. Don’t tire your body out by doing too much. If you stay in shape throughout the year and give your all in only one event a year, your efforts will go a lot farther.

• Work those muscles.

As we age, we lose muscle mass. And this can take a toll on your body as a runner. Make sure to keep up with your conditioning routines and not just focus on endurance. You need strong muscles to keep your body going and to lessen the wear and tear on your body from the continuous pounding that comes from running.

• Stay hydrated all the time.

And not just when working out. Make sure you eat healthy and drink plenty of water or nutrition drinks to keep your body going strong.

Working Out Should Be Fun

Why is it that working out can be such a daunting task to many of us? Is it the muscle burn? Or the exhaustion brought on by building up one’s endurance? Staying in shape shouldn’t be a pain in the you-know-what. It should be fun, and it should make you feel better. Here are some great ways to mix up the boring old routine and get you out there, enjoying your workouts:

• Get some fresh air. Stop running on a treadmill if it bores you. Get outside, enjoy the scenery and breathe in some new, clean air. It will make running a lot more enjoyable, trust us.

• Rock it out. I can’t even begin a workout without a great playlist to pump me up. And change your playlists often so you don’t get bored of the same music while working out.

• Try something new. Find a class that you can take. Maybe a hip-hop class or salsa. A crazy step class, or an 80s pumped aerobics workout. What about a self-defense class, combining Jiu Jitsu or Taebo? If you’re feeling particularly adventurous, why not take a class in pole dancing? Hey, this is the 21^st century. We’re down with that. There are so many classes in just about anything that will get you up on your feet and loving what you are doing. Think outside the box.

• Find a cause. If getting in shape for yourself isn’t a good enough reason for you, why not get in shape for someone else? Sign up for a charity walk or marathon. Not only will you get into shape, you will also feel good fulfilling your civic duty.

• Go extreme. For all you adrenaline junkies out there, we know you’ve already tapped into this one. But for those of you who haven’t, consider making it your goal to learn how to snowboard of surf this year. You may love it.

There are so many unique ways to stay active and healthy. You just have to use your imagination and get going. Sitting around thinking about it isn’t going to get you into shape. Get out there!

Mother Knew Best – Eating Like a Kid Again

So continuing on this quest to harness the energy I once had as a kid, I am proclaiming another goal. Eat better. As a 26 year old, who’s on the go all the time, occasionally living paycheck to paycheck and who, to be quite honest, fears her own cooking, my eating habits are not the best. In fact I usually expect a weekly lecture from my mother asking me if I’m eating well and reminding me to eat plenty of fruits and vegetables everyday. But what can I say? I don’t have the time nor the desire to grocery shop or cook. Usually I grab a granola bar for breakfast or skip it altogether, I eat out almost every lunch and my dinners usually consist of cheese and crackers or a frozen pizza.

Let’s compare this to when I was 10. At that age, my mom cooked for me. She always made sure I had three complete meals a day – healthy, balanced meals – and that I had snacks in between. I always got enough protein, fruits and vegetables. I never overdosed on sugar. Never touched alcohol. And certainly never went near coffee. No wonder I had so much energy.

So why have I let myself succumb to the vices I am a prisoner of now? Convenience, laziness, heck, maybe even a tinge of rebellion have caused me to change my eating habits so drastically from when I was a kid. Well I say, the bunk stops here. No more excuses. I am going to start changing my consumption habits not for any dietary, weight-loss reasons, but simply because I want to feel better. They say you are what you eat, so I have got to stop putting garbage into my body. My mother never let me do it when I was a kid; she knew better, And now I know better too. I am going to make a conscious effort to grocery shop for healthy foods, not just what is convenient. I am going to conquer my fear of cooking and try new recipes. And I am going to try to kick my caffeine habit (this last one may be the hardest). There are so many other healthy energy drinks that I can try instead, like Vitalyte for instance.

This is the year to get that childhood energy back. Now that I’ve got two steps to work on, I’m sure I’ll start feeling some changes soon. So, are you in it with me?

Finding My Inner Child

As a guest blogger for Vitalyte, I have to level with you. I am not a huge endurance sports person anymore. Although I used to be. When I was a kid, I was a gymnast for nearly 10 years. I went to practice four times a week for four hours, and during competition season, I was competing in meets almost every Saturday for hours on end. Coupled with those 16 hours of practice a week, I also had dance lessons for another two hours a week. On top of all that, I am proud to say, I was a straight-A student.

Boy, if only we had the energy now that we had when we were kids. Think of everything we could get accomplished. I want to channel the inner child in me and harness that energy once again. I challenge you to do the same.

To start with, I am going to make myself healthier. When I was a kid, I was always on my feet, whether that be at gymnastics practice or outside playing with my friends. I kept the blood flowing through my veins and I enjoyed it. Now it seems, getting me up and working out is such a task. There is always something else on my mind that I am thinking about or I simply just don’t enjoy working out. I’ve come up with a couple solutions to this.

One, I am going to consciously allot myself a certain amount of leisure time a day, where I am able to put my worries aside, and focus only on the moment I am in.

Second, I am going to harness the inner kid inside of me and start doing activities that I enjoy. Running is off the list. I never have nor ever will enjoy it. Maybe I’ll look into taking some dance classes, going swimming, rollerblading, bike riding – the stuff I used to love when I was a kid.

The point is to figure out what made me so happy when I was younger, because when I am happy, I feel healthier. And when I feel healthier, I feel like I can take on the world. I urge you to join me on this mission this year to take back your inner child. Have fun, get healthy!

Workouts for the Busy

We recently asked some of our Facebook fans to tell us what they thought were good ideas for workouts during the busy week. A few of them responded with some cool ideas, like finding a workout buddy and trying to walk as much during the day as you can. Here are a couple other ideas we came up with that we think you might like.

• Take back your mornings. We know it may be hard for some of you to get up even earlier than you already have to but if you can, the payoff is worth it. It can take some time to build up a routine so that it isn’t so painful to get up early. They say it takes something like three months before something starts to become a habit. To make this easier though, consider choosing an exercise activity that not only makes you feel good, but is fun for you to do. Get outside. Run along the beach. Go kayaking or swimming. Ride a bike. Dance. It’s a lot easier to get excited about getting up to work out when you are looking forward to it.

• Join something. No, we don’t just mean join a gym. Consider finding a running group or a recreational sports team in your area. San Diego has a great program called VAVI, linking together adults from all across the county to participate in club sports for a small fee. From soccer, to kickball, to beach volleyball, participants can get involved and stay in shape, all while making new friends and having fun. Look into clubs like this in your town, or consider forming one with people you already know.

There are lots of great ways to get excited about staying in shape and fitting it in to your busy routine. All it takes is a little bit of dedication and we’re sure you’ll be happy with the results. Now go, exercise, be healthy. And don't forget your healthy sports drink, Vitalyte. (wink, wink).

What Happens to Your Body When You Become Dehydrated?

Dehydration in its simplest terms is defined as an excessive loss of body fluid. For any of you sports athletes out there, you all know the detriment dehydration can do to your body. But what exactly is going on with your body, physiologically, when you become dehydrated?

There are three main types of dehydration. Hypotonic, the loss of electrolytes. Hypertonic, the loss of water. And isotonic, the loss of both electrolytes and water. The most common type seen in humans is isotonic dehydration.

Bascially, your body is not getting the amount of water and electroytes it needs for proper functioning. And when this happens, your body literally begins to shut down. If not remedied, this can lead to neurological complications like seizures and eventually death. Yikes.

Symptoms of dehydration start to occur before you may even realize you are dehydrated. You may experience headaches, muscle cramping, dizziness or fainting. Other symptoms include dryness of your skin, an elevated heart rate, loss of appetite and constipation. Most people will start to realize once they get to this point that they are dehydrated. They usually will just start to feel thirsty before it even gets to this point. Sometimes though, people will experience headaches and muscle cramping, before realizing that they are thirsty. A lot of times, if you find yourself not feeling right, drinking water will always help.

It is best to always drink as much water as you can throughout the day and avoid substances like caffeine, alcohol and too much sodium.

The Perfect Sports Drink for Junior

Vitalyte has been an amazing sports hydration drink for years now, helping athletes reach their goals and giving them the strength they need to keep on going. Already alive and well in the adult arena, Vitalyte is also great for kids. While kids always seem to have this bottomless pit of energy, they could also really benefit from the delights of Vitalyte.

How many of you have kids who play sports? Perhaps it’s your daughter, who goes to soccer practice three time a week and spends all day Saturdays running back and forth across a field. Or maybe it’s your son who’s on the high school cross-country team, running 10 plus miles a day. Whatever activity your children partake in, Vitalyte is the best sports nutrition drink out there. A friend of mine recently told me a great story. Her daughter had three back-to-back soccer games one Saturday. Usually, three games in a row would tire the girl out. Her mom however, gave her Vitalyte throughout the day and it did the trick. Her daughter was not only able to get through all three games, but she even had a little energy left over after. Now if that doesn’t sound like an awesome drink, we don’t know what does.

The unique key to Vitalyte is that it has more electrolytes than you can ever imagine. When you’re working up a sweat, electrolytes are key to keeping your body hydrated. And hydration is key to endurance. We know moms and dads everywhere will be crazy about this product!

Trading Coffee for Electrolytes

So this morning started off as one of those, “I can’t keep my eyes open, must have caffeine” kind of mornings that I usually have quite often. Let’s face it. I am not a morning person, nor do I ever plan on being one. Normally, I just head to the closest Starbucks and lay down $5 on a high-calorie, overly caffeinated drink. But this morning, being in a crunch, I picked up a pack of Vitaytle Electrolyte Replacement Solution that we had at the office and had that instead. Now usually, I love Vitalyte for when I’m working out or just after I’ve completed a long run, but I never really thought to try it in the morning. Let me just say, wow, I’m glad I did.

It’s like I never even needed the caffeine my body desperately craved in the first place. Vitalyte Electrolyte Replacement Solution comes in a number of flavors, I tried grape, and it’s so easy to use. You just mix with water and you’re good to go. After about 30 minutes of drinking it, I felt so much better and so much more awake. Plus, I found myself able to concentrate a lot easier, which, at a busy office like this one, is a great ability to have. And the feeling lasted a lot longer than caffeine usually lasts on me. I have been feeling awake, energized and healthy all day long.

One thing I have always loved about Vitalyte is that all the ingredients are natural - so much better than a lot of other energy drinks on the market. The electrolytes in it are essential to hydration. Honestly, why didn’t I think of this before? Vitalyte, the new alternative to coffee. Sounds pretty good, doesn’t it?

Vitalyte at the BNP Paribas Open and La Jolla Half Marathon

Coming up March 7^th through the 20^th, Vitalyte will be at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, CA, supporting the athletes with our great line of hydration drinks. The BNP Paribas Open is the most-attended tennis tournament in the world outside of the Grand Slams. It is one of the few major events combining both men and women over a two-week period on the ATP World Tour and WTA Tour. Last year the event was attended by nearly 340,000 people and is held annually at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden, a magnificent setting in the Southern Californian desert.

On Sunday, April 17^th, we will be part of the La Jolla Half Marathon. The La Jolla Half Marathon is one of America's most picturesque and challenging runs. Starting adjacent to the Del Mar Fairgrounds, the course travels along the coast, past Torrey Pines State Park, into La Jolla Shores, and finishes on the grass at La Jolla Cove park.

We at Vitalyte are really excited about all the events we get to be part of. We’ve always cared greatly about serving the end user, bettering their lives, providing the best products for them to feel good before, during and after their activities. That being said, we are super stoked and proud to be part of the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells and the La Jolla Half Marathon.

Vitalyte Tri-Phase Endurance – New Product Launching Soon!

We at Vitalyte have been actively engaged in keeping you healthy, nourished and hyrdrated now for a long time and we are proud to announce a new product coming soon. Vitalyte Tri-Phase Endurance is formulated for maximum effectiveness for serious athletes. All of the ingredients, flavors, colors and sweeteners are 100% natural. This ground-breaking, healthy sports drink is formulated to provide sustained energy, cognitive focus, stimulate recovery, fight free radicals, and replenish and re-balance the electrolytes you lose in extreme athletics.

Vitalyte Tri-Phase Endurance is a refreshing sports drink that uses a combination of Vitamins B6 and B12 for sustained energy and mental focus. Natural Crystalline Fructose and Maltodextrin are fast-acting carbohydrates that provide immediate energy, while Palatinose™, a patented endurance carbohydrate, provides sustained energy to get you through the last mile.

This amazing sports drink also contains Branched Chain Amino Acids and CarnoSyn™ Beta-Alanine, which provide muscles with needed amino acids, help speed recovery and buffer lactic acid. The advanced electrolyte blend is the same high-performance mix Vitalyte is known for and these electrolytes are needed to keep your neurotransmitters firing and reach your maximum performance potential. Lastly it’s important to know that extreme exercise increases free radical damage in your body. Vitalyte Tri-Phase Endurance contains Selenium to boost Glutathione, the “master antioxidant” and one of the most powerful free radical fighters in your body.

An amazing new sports nutrition drink, Vitalyte Tri-Phase Endurance is the complete performance product for the modern athlete. We can’t wait to share it with you.

Vitalyte the Official Sports Drink of the Surf City USA Marathon

Ahh Southern California and your picturesque beaches, your gorgeous weather, and turquoise waters. What better place to run a marathon than along the gorgeous Pacific Coast Highway, or the PCH as locals call it. Well it just so happens that February 6^th is the Surf City USA Marathon and Vitalyte is proud to announce that we will be the marathon’s official drink!

The marathon course heads through Huntington Beach, past it’s pier and it’s scenic Central Park, and then heads down a beachfront running path at Bolsa Chica State Beach. The runners will definitely need a lot of nourishment along the way and Vitalyte is excited to be their number one sports drink supplier. With average highs at 68 degrees, it is beyond important that the runners stay hydrated.

The marathon is so popular that it is already sold out. Last year, the Surf City USA Marathon broke all attendance records with over 16,700 finishers in the marathon, half marathon & 5K events. This year, 18,000 runners will be there to give it their all under the wonderful Southern California sunshine.

Every year, the Surf City USA Marathon teams up with the Free Wheelchair Mission. Runners are encouraged to use the marathon as a way to raise funds to send specially engineered wheelchairs to needy and developing nations. The alliance forged in 2006 has allowed Surf City USA Marathon runners to raise more than $1,600,000 to date.

Vitalyte is so proud of the runners and their fundraising efforts and amped to support them on February 6^th!